Assignment

We are moving to Colorado Springs, CO (Ft Carson) this summer! Jonathan thinks he will be in a job at either the hospital or regional confinement facility (jail). It's not exactly where I was hoping, but it is still west (with no offense intended to my friends here in Georgia). YEA!!!

Report Cards

Report cards came yesterday.

Jon-
Oral/Written Composition 98
Adv Algebra & Trigonometry 87
AP Physics 81
AP Micro Economics 93

Naomi-
Lit/Composition Advanced 93
JROTC 96
Chemistry 90
World History Advanced 87

This & That

1) the snow is gone, it's still rather cold at night but we are now back to about 50 degrees during the day. The sun was out yesterday and it was really nice. It is supposed to rain this weekend, but it hasn't started yet.

2) Jon Paul was supposed to go on a hike with the Venture Crew this weekend, but the weather forecast caused a change in plans. So they went down to southern Georgia to one of the advisors hunting preserves to camp. There is a cabin on the property (without electricity or running water), so they can at least get out of the weather if needed.

3) Denise is enjoying college so far. We need to get her a scientific calculator for math. Which is a lot cheaper than a graphing calculator like we thought she was going to need.

4) Naomi has changed her interior design class for JROTC. After only a few days, she realized the design class was going to be very boring. The JROTC instructors were very glad to have her back in class.

5) I have joined another weight loss class. This one is being lead by one of the priest's wives from church. I thought it would be nice to have a second support group (actually third group since my family is my biggest support group). And it's nice to combine Bible study with the weight loss program. We had our first meeting last week.

6) I've been working on some long term projects- sorting through recipes I've collected for many years and never used, hoping to get the genealogy notes Grandma Elsie made scanned and put into the computer before the ink deteriorate, and just sorting through things some more to make it easier to pack this summer.

7) taxes- YUCK. I've got the sales tax report almost ready for the last quarter. Now I need to get started and get my yearly numbers for the embroidery business caught up and get ready to file the federal taxes. I think I need some Tylenol:)


8) We have a cat who has been hanging around the house. She is a small, beautiful calico. I've set up one of our carrier cages, with insulation and a towel door, for her on the porch. I've been told no more pets, so I can't bring her into the house. And Charlie and Bruce are both jealous of any attention she gets. Anyone need a new cat??

Snow Day

It snowed last night. Denise's first class ended early and the school shut down. The public schools are all closed today- so Jon and Naomi have an extra day off. Weight Watchers is also apparently closed (they're not answering the phone anyway) so I guess I have to wait until tomorrow to weigh in.

It is so cold (lows about 15 degrees), the wild birds are rapidly emptying my bird feeders. I even bought a new and larger one last week. We'll have to see how long 40# of seed lasts between 3 feeders. But it's so much fun to watch the sparrows, chickadees, titmouses and cardinals. (I could do without the starlings that chase all the others away.) NOTE: the window is dirty from the cat's nose prints. Bruce sits on the cabinet below the window and jumps at the birds and squirrels.

Ice skating

Jon went ice skating with his girlfriend Olivia after Christmas.

Stump Removal

We have had a tree stump next to our driveway since we moved to this house. Last Wednesday, Naomi was backing the Suburban out and hit the stump (it was in her blind spot). So today, JoJene and Jon Paul took it out. It wasn't too hard of a job now that all the rain has softened up the ground (unlike this summer when Jonathan had tried to remove it.)

A Moment of Peace

This poem was written by Laurel, a member of an embroidery group I belong to. I thought it was worth sharing.

===========================
A Moment of Peace

It came upon the desert sand
That glorious sound so new
No rockets, bombs, or IEDs
For soldiers to pass through

Peace on this land
We pray tonight
May all our soldiers be safe
The world at home does kneel and pray
For loved ones so far away

The angels with the soldiers stand
A wonderful sight to see
Each angel wing wrapped round them tight
To protect them on this Eve

Peace in your heart
We pray tonight
May all our soldiers be safe
Our world at home is safe and sound
As dreams of you come round

The silence sounds so loud tonight
And stars so brightly burn
The soldier stands with head bowed low
For friends and family yearns


Peace ease your mind
We pray tonight
May all our soldiers be safe
And know that you are in our hearts
This day that Christmas starts

And as the soldier kneels to pray
He thinks of you and me
He asks for God's forgiveness
For things we'll never see

Peace fill your soul
We pray tonight
May all our soldiers be safe
We thank you for the job you do
May angels walk with you

It's almost dawn on Christmas Day
And soon it begins again
But for a time the world stood still
To share a peaceful reign

Peace be forever
We pray tonight
May all our soldiers be safe
And may those in harm's way
Come home to us, we pray

© Laurel A. Olmsted
December 13, 2006
can be sung to the music
of "It Came Upon The Midnight Clear"

(used with permission of the author)